Series notes: Notre Dame returns to Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time since 2013 as the Boilermakers and Fighting Irish rekindle a historic rivalry. The two met each year from 1946 to 2014, but the series ended after seven straight Notre Dame victories. The first matchup in the re-started series took place in 2021 when Purdue fell 27-13 in South Bend. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 59-26-2 and holds a 13-26-2 advantage in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers last took the Shillelagh trophy in 2007 in a 33-19 win
TV: CBS (PxP Brad Nessler, Analyst Gary Danielson, Sidelines Jenny Dell)
Radio: Purdue Sports Properties (PxP Tim Newton, Analyst Mark Herrmann, Sidelines Kelly Kitchel)
Notre Dame running game versus Purdue against the run
The Fighting Irish want to run the ball early and often. Year in and year out, a solid offensive line paves the way for Notre Dame to run the ball. After a training camp injury knocked out starting left tackle Charles Jagusah for the season, the offensive line became more of a question than an answer. Through two games, Notre Dame averages 160 yards on the ground at just over five yards per carry.
Quarterback Riley Leonard factors heavily into the run game as a run-heavy quarterback. He’s carried the ball 23 times on the young season, second-most on the team. Joining him are tailbacks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price . Love handles the bulk of the snaps, while Price ripped off a long touchdown run in the game at Texas A&M.
Purdue stopped the Indiana State run game, limiting the Sycamores to just 2.4 yards per carry. How much can be gauged from that game? Indiana State only attempted ten passes to 40 rush attempts, demonstrating a conservative offensive approach unlikely to be replicated again this season by a Purdue opponent. The Boilermakers entered the season hoping the defensive line could make a difference. It’s back to full strength, as Joe Anderson will return to the mix up front for this game.
A potential vulnerability? Leonard’s legs. Purdue allowed a few scrambles from Indiana State quarterback Elijah Owens in the opener, and Leonard’s poise could give him ample time to make plays with his feet. Purdue must limit and force him to stay in the pocket and throw the ball.
Notre Dame passing game versus Purdue against the pass
The stat became widespread after Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois. Just five FBS teams have yet to throw a touchdown pass in 2024, Notre Dame among them. Leonard transferred in from Duke to expand the passing game, which limited the Irish in recent seasons. So far, that’s not come to fruition. Leonard completes 61% of his passes for just 160 yards per game. He tossed a pair of costly interceptions in the Northern Illinois contest, too. Leonard needs to produce more through the air for the Fighting Irish to take the next step on offense.
While several NFL tight ends came through South Bend over the past decade or so, the wide receiver play has hampered the Notre Dame offense. Former highly-touted recruits Beaux Collins and Jaden Greathouse lead the receiving group, while Kris Mitchell and tight ends Mitchell Evans and Cooper Flanagan factor into the mix. It’s not a dynamic group of pass-catchers, which limits the ceiling of the passing game.
Indiana State hardly tried to throw the ball against Purdue, completing five of ten passes for a mere 50 yards. Though Notre Dame doesn’t possess a prolific passing attack, it will present much more of a challenge for Purdue’s defense than Indiana State. Purdue’s new-look pass rush will seek to exploit an inexperienced yet talented Notre Dame offensive line.
The status of top corner Nyland Green doesn’t look promising for Purdue. Walters indicated he does not expect Green to suit up on Saturday as he recovers from a foot injury. With him absent, true freshman Tarrion Grant will start in his place. Expect Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to scheme plays to challenge the youngster early and often.
Purdue running game versus Notre Dame against the run
Purdue started the season with a bang, averaging eight yards per carry in the win over Indiana State. A new and improved offensive line paved the way for three Boilermakers to run one into the end zone, which doesn’t include leading rusher Devin Mockobee . The veteran tailback led the way with 89 yards on just 11 carries, and Illinois transfer Reggie Love II I tacked on 39 yards on seven touches.
Mockobee and Love split carries pretty evenly in the opener. Expect that to continue when the Fighting Irish come to town. Two questions remain: If Purdue needs to go to a third running back, does true freshman Jaheim Merriweather or walk-on Elijah Jackson get the nod? While Merriweather is on scholarship, Jackson showcased some speed on a 69-yard touchdown run. Additionally, how much will Purdue run Hudson Card? He can change the game with his running ability, but Purdue needs him healthy for the duration of the season.
The Fighting Irish bring an elite defense to West Lafayette, but the strength lies in the secondary. Texas A&M and Northern Illinois each took a run-first approach against Notre Dame. Though the Aggies couldn’t throw the ball well enough to keep the defense honest, Northern Illinois succeeded in keeping the ball out of Notre Dame’s hands by moving the ball on the ground.
In-state linebackers Jack Kiser and Drayk Bowen will meet Purdue’s ball-carriers downhill. Purdue will hope that its offensive line can hold its own, if not get a strong push, against the Notre Dame defense. It won’t come easily, as Notre Dame’s interior defensive line presents a formidable challenge. Don’t expect the Boilermakers to ground-and-pound this one, but it can’t become one-dimensional. It must create some form of running game.
Purdue passing game versus Notre Dame against the pass
It’s hard to imagine a better start to the season than Hudson Card ‘s. He completed 24 of 25 passes for 273 yards and found the end zone four times as Purdue cruised to victory. His last three games, all Purdue victories, look like the quarterback Purdue desperately wanted out of the transfer portal in 2023. With a better offensive line, he should see more time to work with this fall. Card’s stat line nearly looked even better, as two deep completions were called back due to holding penalties.
The brand-new receiving corps saw lots of rotation in the opener, as 12 Boilermakers caught a pass. A common theme? Size. Purdue focused on adding taller, rangier targets on the outside, which showed immediately. The tight end spot impressed, as Max Klare wasted no time picking up where he left off pre-injury in 2023. Jahmal Edrine showcased the ability to match the anticipation of his debut as a Boilermaker. Will Purdue get its fastest receiver, CJ Smith, back for this one? It could come down to game time.
Notre Dame’s secondary stands among the nation’s best. Corner Benjamin Morrison projects as a high first-round draft pick. Christian Gray , a highly-touted sophomore, starts on the opposite side. Safety Xavier Watts earned All-American honors in 2023. In the season opener, Texas A&M completed less than 50% of passes, threw for just 100 yards and tossed two interceptions. Nearly half of Northern Illinois’ passing yardage came on one explosive play. Few teams across America can match the secondary that Notre Dame will bring with it to West Lafayette.
Though the secondary is elite, the Notre Dame pass rush has generated just one sack in two games thus far. Purdue will hope this trend can continue to keep Hudson Card upright. If Card gets time to throw and extend plays, he can use his dual-threat skillset to create plays. Don’t expect Purdue to throw it deep too regularly, but it needs to hit a shot or two to spark the upset.
Special teams
Purdue avoided the special teams mistakes that haunted it in 2023. Dillon Thieneman shined in his first action as a punt returner, demonstrating the field vision that convinced coaches to put him back there. And, while Purdue only got one opportunity to return a kickoff, Jackson’s speed put Purdue in nice field position.
The downside of the blowout? New punter Keelan Crimmins only saw two opportunities to boot one deep, and the Boilermakers didn’t attempt a field goal. True freshman Spencer Porath cashed in on all seven extra point attempts, and Walters confirmed that he would have handled a field goal attempt if the situation came up.
Few kickers in the nation are as proven as Notre Dame’s Mitch Jeter . Now a third-year starter, he’s drilled 26 of 30 career field goal attempts. Two of those misses did come last week, as tries from 48 and 62 yards out both got blocked—the blocked kick from 48 stands as the lone miss inside 50 yards in Jeter’s career. Australian import James Rendell came to South Bend ahead of this season, but he averages shy of 40 yards per punt through two games with a long of 49 yards.
Two games into the season, Notre Dame has not yet attempted to return a punt. Jayden Harrison averages 24 yards per kickoff return, taking one 34 yards.
Intangibles
How will Notre Dame respond to the shocking upset loss to Northern Illinois? After the impressive win at Texas A&M, it looked like the Fighting Irish could start making College Football Playoff plans. Now? No wiggle room remains for Notre Dame to maintain Playoff hopes. Under Brian Kelly , Notre Dame rarely lost in upset fashion. Now, it’s becoming a troubling trend.
On the other hand, Purdue enters with extra preparation time after a week two bye. The Boilermakers looked crisp in the win over Indiana State, but a big jump in competition awaits on Saturday. Did the extra week of preparation help Purdue, or did the time off get Purdue out of rhythm?
Both Marcus Freeman and Ryan Walters will make their Shillelagh Trophy debuts on Saturday. Freeman did serve as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator when the programs met in 2021, while Walters only coached against Notre Dame once when he was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 2012.
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